[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 207 (Friday, December 15, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1241]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  CONSIDERING THE PROPOSED MENTHOL BAN

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                            HON. MIKE EZELL

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, December 15, 2023

  Mr. EZELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express deep concern regarding the 
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)'s decision to ban the sale of 
menthol cigarettes. If the Administration continues with this proposal, 
it must work with the appropriate law enforcement agencies to mitigate 
the potential increase in illicit cross-border activities related to 
menthol cigarette smuggling.
  While I acknowledge the negative health effects of cigarettes, the 
consequences of opening an illicit market could be detrimental. As a 
career law enforcement officer, I have seen the effect of imposing 
federal bans on contraband firsthand. Mandates such as this encourages 
terrorist and cartel organizations to smuggle cigarettes across our 
wide-open southern border. With the increasing influx of drugs, 
including fentanyl and narcotics, already coming across our border and 
the number of cartels reportedly expanding operations to include 
cigarette smuggling, our nation cannot afford to give terrorist and 
cartels another revenue stream to terrorize our communities.
  As the Administration looks to finalize this rule, I urge the 
administration to consider all the consequences of this rule and take 
steps to lessen the risks associated with this ban.

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